Category Archives: family

Days of Thankfulness

I have barely visited the blog since last Tuesday. On that day our daughter, son-in-law, and grand baby arrived from Oklahoma City for a several days visit. I left work early to come home and help with final clean-up and prep. Then on Wednesday morning, about 7:30 AM, our son and his roommate arrived, having driven all night from Chicago. With my mother-in-law still with us, recovering from our shoulder injury, we had a full house and a great time. The blog didn’t seem so important; neither did writing.

We had a good Thanksgiving day, and the days on either side of it were great as well. The kids went off to visit friends during the day on Friday; otherwise they were at home. Good meals on all days. We cut back a little on how much we prepared for Thanksgiving dinner, yet there seemed to be plenty. We still have turkey, mashed potatoes, and some other things left, even with putting up four lunches for me. We put puzzles together and watched videos and just talked.

And of course played with Ephraim. This was grandson’s first time to be at our house. He and his mother are still here. We talked her into staying through today so that some of the people at church could see him (and Sara too). Everything was a delight this long weekend.

Yet, we were saddened by the tragedy in Mumbai, where terrorists decided to try to wreak havoc in that city; and by the Wal-Mart employee who was trampled to death in a mad rush at the beginning of Black Friday. I do not understand the mentality that has given rise to this most base of all Thanksgiving traditions. People have told me of the adrenalin rush they receive when they rush into the store to find the bargains they want, but I just can’t see it, and will have no part of it.

Today I try to get back to the routine of writing. I’m still not ready to re-enter the world of publishing, so still won’t seek that; but writing I will continue. I should be back before the end of the day with the results of meeting my November goals.

Home

We are home again, 2,600+ miles and ten days later. On Friday the 1st, we headed out, driving to Orlando for the conference I presented a paper at. We went south via New Orleans, just driving through on the Interstate, but still seeing areas that were devastated in Hurricane Katrina. Our route took us through new States, more for Lynda than for me.

In Orlando, we did a lot less than expected. My work kept me busy almost three days, and Lynda hung out in the hotel room and did her work. We had planned to leave Orlando today, but on Thursday afternoon we made the decision to head home the next day. Rather than make the drive in two days, we took three, a leisurely drive indeed.

On the way there, we stopped in Live Oak, Florida, and saw my cousin Pamela. I last saw her in 1959. I don’t remember that, but the family photos exist of us in the same picture in my parent’s driveway. That was an enjoyable meeting lasting a few hours. The next day we saw her father, my Uncle Gilbert and his wife and another of his daughters, my cousin Jody Beth and her husband. I hadn’t seen them since Dad’s funeral in 1997.

So it was a good trip. Back home, I will again turn my thoughts outside of the office to writing, and try to achieve some of the August goals I blogged about a few days ago.

2043 miles

We are home again. The direct route from Bella Vista to Ridgecrest was about 880 miles. A little bit of back-tracking in the Asheville area, the diversion to see my sister in Evansville, Indiana, and the diversion to see our children and new grandchild in Kansas City made for the remainder.

I’m now in the process of post-conference follow-up. Sent two e-mails tonight, and may get one more done. I have to work on two non-fiction book proposals requested by an editor, and a novel proposal and a series of book summaries (for books I have not yet written) for another editor. I have a bunch of other e-mails to write, and many web sites to visit–as well as catch up on sites not visited while I was gone.

Then, in order to not forever be an arrow through the air, disturbing unseen gasses but never hitting a target, I need to figure out what my correct target should be. That will take some time, hopefully not too long. Then the real research and writing will commence.

It’s been a wonderful week

The turmoil of the week before last, which caused me to describe that week at “turbulent”, has passed. I’m currently basking in the glow of Ephraim Todd Schneberger, now age 8 days. Saw him Wednesday through Saturday just passed, and what a cutie he is. Hopefully I will figure out how to paste in a picture. He is incredibly expressive in his face, with many worried, furrowed-brow expressions. He will be a serious person, just like his dad. The parents are doing well, though understandably stressed out, especially with their move to OKC next month, where Daddy will begin his duties as senior pastor in a church there. He’s off today for a quick house hunting trip. Through the miracle of the Internet, they have found an agent they both know from college days there, and have narrowed the number of houses to look at. Sure was different in 1983, when we moved to North Carolina, and 1991 when we moved to Arkansas.
I’m gelling right now. I learned that someone has stolen my corporate credit card, and made four purchases in Australia. Yet, none of that will be my problem, since our corporate card company is on top of it, and since it isn’t tied to my SSN, it won’t show up on a credit report. Last night I completed some major work on my non-fiction book proposal, and it should be ready for the Ridgecrest conference next week. That should be stressing me out, because I only have till Friday night to prepare (must leave Sat. AM to make it there by mid-day Sunday). Yet, I’m not feeling the stress at all. On Wednesday they are going to use my submission, a post from this blog, on the conference blog. Possibly that will give me some good pre-conference publicity.
I find the quiet in this part of the building makes for difficult working conditions. I will be shifting to a new cubicle sometime within the next three weeks, up to where others have moved, so will be back in the ambient noise of people, phones, faxes, printers, and copiers. It’s also quiet at home, as Lynda is still playing grandma to Ephraim. Hopefully this week I’ll find time to make three or four posts. Stay tuned.

It’s been a joyous couple of days

Yesterday, at 5:17 PM, my first grandchild was born in Kansas City, Missouri. Ephraim Todd Schneberger first breathed on earth weighing 6 pounds 15 ounces, 19.75 inches long. Our daughter is doing fine, the baby is fine; son-in-law Richard seems to be doing okay, thought I haven’t spoken with him since the birth. In fact all this news come from my wife, who drove to KC yesterday and arrived shortly after the birth.

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow.

Back to other subjects soon.